A potent winter storm brought blizzard conditions, treacherous travel and power outages in parts of the Upper Midwest on Monday, Dec. 29 as other areas of the country experienced plunging temperatures, strong winds, a mix of snow, ice, and rain, and dangerous wind chills in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Despite stubborn inflation, higher daily costs and a dip in holiday spending, most North Dakotans are as committed to charitable giving, according to the latest North Dakota Poll, commissioned by the North Dakota News Cooperative.

BISMARCK, N.D. – On Friday, Dec. 19, Gov. Kelly Armstrong joined lawmakers and state Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus at the Capitol to highlight the relief provided by the $1,600 Primary Residence Credit (PRC) approved last spring, while also emphasizing the need to grow the credit in future legislative sessions to eliminate property taxes for even more households.

At the latest fitness hearing held via Zoom on Monday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. at the Ramsey County Courthouse for ex-Devils Lake Police Officer Rey Hennen, the presiding judge ruled to allow as evidence audio/video recordings made during the defendant’s mental health evaluation. Hennen is currently facing multiple felony charges alleging child endangerment and sexual assault, after a standoff in September with Devils Lake Police.

CARRINGTON, ND – The Garrison Diversion Conservancy District’s Recreation Committee recently met and awarded matching recreation grants to 12 projects, totaling $282,138, according to a press release issued by Garrison Diversion Communications Director Kimberly Cook.

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Commerce has announced the availability of $600,000 in funding to support the growth, sustainability and competitiveness of Native American-owned small businesses across the state. According to the NDDOC press release, the Native American Small Business Support Program was created through funding appropriated by the 69th Legislative Assembly.

BISMARCK, N.D. – North Dakota Information Technology (NDIT) recently announced that a key federal agency has approved the state’s final Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) plan—an essential milestone that allows the state to move forward with awarding grants under streamlined, lower-cost rules.

BISMARCK, N.D. (Nov. 21, 2025) - The North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund (NDIRF) was awarded the 2024 Driver Safety Training Award by the North Dakota Safety Council (NDSC), a chapter of the National Safety Council (NSC).

The staff of the Devils Lake Journal shares their picks for the top stories from the past 12 months in Devils Lake and the Lake Region.